For a while Tuesday evening it looked like the defending state champion Madisonville Lady Maroons were in trouble, and not just trouble but deep trouble. But then again, champions are just that for a reason. Madisonville rallied from 4-1 down to hand the Caldwell County Lady Tigers a tough 5-4 2nd Region loss in Madisonville.
There were two outs in the bottom of the 6th, Madisonville had two runners on, but the Caldwell County Lady Tigers had been able to get out of jams all game long, so you were beginning to think the Lady Maroons just might lose to a 2nd Region opponent for the first time since March 20, 2014. Again, champions are just that for a reason.
Lexi Miller took a pitch from Caldwell County’s Katie Franklin and drove it deep out of the park in right center field to tie the game at 4-4, and set up a fantastic 7th inning finish.
In the top of the 7th, Caldwell County managed to load the bases with two outs. However, Madisonville pitcher Courtney Patterson got Emma Staples to pop up on the infield to end the threat.
The bottom of the 7th began with a Lady Tiger error. Madisonville then sacrificed the runner to second base. After fouling off the first two pitches she saw, the Lady Maroons’ Jayda Perkins, who had a solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning, hit a shot off the fence to drive in the game winning run.
It was very nearly Caldwell County’s J’Amiee Burke who had the game deciding hit. In the top of the 4th inning, Burke hit a long ball to left field that carried and carried and carried, until it finally carried out of the park, driving in Mashea Glover and Emma Staples, breaking a 1-1 tie, and putting the Lady Tigers up 4-1.
The lead would hold until Miller’s home run in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Mashea Glover went 2-3 with an RBI for Caldwell County, while Burke was 1-3, with the home run and 3 RBI’s.
Jayda Perkins came up huge for Madisonville, going 4-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs, including the game winner.
The two teams will play again Thursday evening in Princeton.